Threads of Remembrance – VE80 Tribute
16 Sep - 11 Nov 2025
Threads of Remembrance is a powerful tribute marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, created in partnership with Nucleus Arts and with support from Medway Council.
At the heart of the installation are more than 20,000 handmade poppies, lovingly created by volunteers from the Medway community and beyond. What began as a call for 11,000 poppies, one for each of the men who lost their lives aboard 142 Royal Navy destroyers, has grown into a sea of red flowers with contributions arriving from across the UK.
The installation surrounds the National Destroyer Memorial, where HMS CAVALIER, the last surviving Royal Navy destroyer of the Second World War, stands as a lasting reminder of those who served. Visitors are invited to pause at the display, reflect, and add a name to the roll of honour beside the poppies in remembrance of the fallen.
This moving community-led display is open to visitors from 16 September until Armistice Day, 11 November 2025.
The National Destroyer Memorial and the Role of Destroyers in the Second World War
HMS CAVALIER and Destroyers in the Second World War
Destroyers were essential to the war at sea, escorting convoys, protecting fleets and engaging in anti-submarine and anti-aircraft warfare. They played a crucial role in naval operations, making them prime targets for enemy aircraft and submarines, often sustaining heavy casualties.
HMS CAVALIER was one of 96 emergency destroyers ordered between 1940 and 1942. She joined the 6th Destroyer Flotilla and helped escort Arctic Convoys and defend troop ships in the Western Approaches, earning a Battle Honour for her service.
National Destroyer Memorial
HMS CAVALIER is the last surviving Royal Navy destroyer of the Second World War. Today she stands as a national memorial to the 142 destroyers lost and the 11,000 men who gave their lives in service.
Beside her stands a bronze sculpture and Roll of Honour paying tribute to these ships and their crews.
The Fastest Ship in the Fleet
Following a challenge set in 1970, a race was arranged between HMS CAVALIER and the frigate HMS RAPID to decide which ship was faster. Though both were aging by Royal Navy standards, they remained among its fastest vessels.
The race took place on 6 July 1971, with a national newspaper donating a trophy for the ‘Fastest Ship in the Fleet.’ After two hours neck and neck, RAPID lifted a safety valve giving CAVALIER a narrow win by just 30 yards, over a 64 mile course. Her average speed was an impressive 31.8 knots, which few modern ships could achieve.
Since then, CAVALIER has affectionately been known as ‘The Fastest of the Greyhounds.’
Life After the War
HMS CAVALIER served well beyond the Second World War, taking part in early nuclear tests in the Pacific and supporting Britain’s post-war decolonisation efforts. After a record 27 years of service, she was decommissioned in July 1972.
Rescued from scrapping in 1977 by devoted organisations, she found a permanent home in Chatham in 1999. Today she is one of the Historic Dockyard’s most popular attractions, continuing to inspire, just as she did 80 years ago.
